New Mexico Nuclear Disposal Plant Radiation Alarm

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By
Paul Johnson

Story Created:
Feb 17, 2014 at 12:00 PM MDT

Story Updated:
Feb 17, 2014 at 12:00 PM MDT

Carlsbad, New Mexico (CNN) - Officials say a nuclear disposal plant quickly contained a potential radiation leak.The waste isolation pilot plant outside Carlsbad, New Mexico, detected a spike in radiation in an area half-a-mile below the ground.Normally, air from the facility is filtered outside.But when higher-than-normal levels of radiation tripped an alarm, officials say that flow of air was immediately shut off.Officials believe there is no danger to the surrounding community, because the potential leak was quickly contained.Because the radiation spike was detected late at night, officials say there was also little risk to any employees.